Darren Conrad: Top 5 Success Tips for Entrepreneurs

April 2517:142017

There are many steps on the road to success, the first being to know what you want. In the entrepreneurial realm, each individual sets their own path, selling themselves as the product. Darren Conrad, Executive Vice President and CMO of Retail Service Systems (RSS), shared his advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur in today’s society.

“What makes me a successful entrepreneur is being a good forgetter,” Darren laughed. “I keep things simple and I don’t let things distract me.” These words of wisdom come from a man who started out as a sales representative for Cutco Cutlery and has since gone on to start four separate, successful businesses. Today Darren works to help others share his fortune by hosting seminars across the U.S. At these seminars, Darren gives insights and tips on how to succeed as an entrepreneur in the retail bedding industry.

Though Darren’s seminars are geared towards the mattress industry, the advice he shares can be applied to any entrepreneurial scenario. Darren shared his top five success tips for entrepreneurs:

1. Believe in what you do.

As an entrepreneur, you are your own product. Regardless of what trade or item you are selling, YOU are the selling point and it is crucial that you have faith in what you represent. In order to succeed, you have to believe in your product and believe in what you are doing. This will create a sense of confidence and pride that consumers will recognize and respond to.

2. Attraction not promotion.

It is important to understand that your product is attractive on its own without you having to sell it. When you are working one on one with a customer, your goal should not be to convince them your product is worthy-this is something you already know to be true. Simply knowing that you have a quality product makes people want what you have.

3. Never stop recruiting.

This is possibly the most important step in succeeding as an entrepreneur. In order to advance, it is necessary to surround yourself with likeminded people who can help you achieve your goals. It is important to build a team that never stops growing because the more people you have on your side, the more your business will grow and expand.

4. Keep things simple.

It is easy to get distracted from your primary goals when you are running your own business. Keep things simple by taking small steps and communicating with your team. Prioritization and clearly established goals and timelines will help you keep a steady course on the path to success.

5. Share your vision.

While it is significantly important to constantly recruit likeminded people to join you on your journey, it is equally important to maintain relationships with those people. Get to know them on a respectful yet personal level and keep up with communication as often as possible. In order to maintain common goals and ideals, you must share your vision and insights with your team. This establishes good relationships and sets the stage for a successful business.